31/12/2025
Wrapping up my top ten reads for the year! In no particular order (kind of) because I loved them all for different reasons:
⭐️ Before You Knew My Name by - a great read by a Kiwi author, loved it for putting a spotlight on the victim, not the perpetrator, of violent crime
⭐️ Brotherless Night by - set in Sri Lanka’s civil war, a heartbreaking tale I knew nothing about and feel grateful for having read
⭐️ Horse by - lived up to the hype, spanning multiple generations and masterfully weaved together
⭐️ Frozen River by .lawhon - love a strong female lead and this is that! Plus that ending…
⭐️ Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - Hunger Games fans rejoice, this was a worthy addition to the series and the movie comes out in 2026.
⭐️ I Hope This Finds You Well by - a stealthy addition to my list but a worthy one. I found this tale delightfully human, laughed in parts and even had a cry at the end.
⭐️ The Great Alone by - The Nightingale still remains my top pick from Kristin Hannah but this is a close second.
⭐️ Raising Hare by - the non-fiction tale of a UK woman who befriends a wild hare was an unexpected favourite this year. I loved it for how it appreciated the rhythms of nature - lessons we could all use in a crazy world.
⭐️The Names by - have been recommending this one to all that will listen. A debut novel with at times heavy themes but beautifully written and an original plot line.
⭐️Wild Dark Shore by - this ecological thriller was an easy favourite this year and hard to put down.
Did any of these make your top reads this year? More importantly, what needs to be on my 2026 list?!
